So what progress have I seen in 30 years?
Page 42

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• In 1972, a vehicle needed two days in the workshop to put right what had gone wrong in five days, so today's vehicles get my vote.
• In 1972 there was a roads programme and things improved year by year. Today we have those roads, but they are disintegrating. Because we spend so much time stationary on them we know our eyes do not deceive us. We are supposed to have a 10-year roads programme, but I think Blair is using it to bail out Byers' beleaguered railways.
• In 1972 we sat in Liverpool Docks waiting to get unloaded—strikes permitting. Now we wait at supermarket RDC.s. Different place, different problem...same result!
• In 1972 there were plenty of drivers; not so today.
• In 1972 we had cheap fuel...